Team Canada: Who's trending up, down?

It's that time again, Canada. The Winter Olympics are mere months away and the roster for the national men's hockey team has yet to be finalized.

To this point in the 2013-14 NHL season, certain players have made their mark while others have left something to be desired in the leadup to February's Sochi Olympics.

Here's five players we believe are trending up, and five trending down, in regards to Team Canada.

(Photo: QMI Agency/Reuters/QMI Agency/Reuters)

*Statistics through December 1

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TRENDING DOWN: ERIC STAAL, Carolina Hurricanes

A soldier for Canada throughout his career, the oldest Staal brother isn't doing so hot this year. The 29-year-old power forward's minus-11 rating and goal-scoring inconsistency are black eyes at this point. Unless Staal, a Thunder Bay, Ont., product, turns it on in December, he may be watching the Olympics from his couch instead of Sochi.

(Photo: Reuters)

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TRENDING UP: CHRIS KUNITZ, Pittsburgh Penguins

If Kunitz makes Team Canada, he'll automatically become the most polarizing forward on the roster. As the sidekick to arguably the best player in the game, the 34-year-old from Regina, Sask., will always have his critics. But chemistry -- something Kunitz (27 points in 28 games) and Sidney Crosby (36 in 28) have in excess -- is key in a short tournament.

(Photo: Reuters)

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TRENDING DOWN: TAYLOR HALL, Edmonton Oilers

Like most of his Oiler teammates, Hall isn't doing himself any favours this year. While his numbers are steady (seven goals and 19 points in 21 games), the 22-year-old from Kingston, Ont., will have difficulty cracking Team Canada's lineup with a mediocre defensive game to offer.

(Photo: QMI Agency)

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TRENDING UP: ALEX PIETRANGELO, St. Louis Blues

An anchor on the powerhouse Blues back-end, it appears Pietrangelo's days as a second-tier Canadian defenceman are over. At 23, the King City, Ont., native is a force to be reckoned with at both ends of the ice. The best part? He doesn't take penalties -- something significant in a short tournament like the Olympics.

(Photo: Reuters)

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TRENDING DOWN: MARC-ANDRE FLEURY, Pittsburgh Penguins

Fleury was on a short leash coming into the season since his game tends to go south when the games truly count. To date, the 29-year-old from Sorel, Que., hasn't done horribly (14 wins in 23 games) but he also hasn't dazzled (.918 save percentage). It's hard to picture Fleury between the pipes in Sochi with an unremarkable first half of the season in tow.

(Photo: Reuters)

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TRENDING UP: JOSH HARDING, Minnesota Wild

Hands-down the best story of the season, Harding has played himself into the goaltending conversation in the middle of a bout with Multiple sclerosis. In his first season since being diagnosed with MS, the Regina, Sask., native is tied for second in goals-against average and fifth in save percentage among all NHL goalies.

(Photo: Reuters)

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TRENDING DOWN: JEFF CARTER, Los Angeles Kings

Unable to produce much offensively, Carter, a 28-year-old from London, Ont., has really hurt his chances of making Team Canada with a poor start. A proven goal-scorer in the past, the 6-foot-4, 212-pound forward has six goals in 17 games. What's more, only three of those markers were scored at even-strength.

(Photo: QMI Agency)

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TRENDING UP: MATT DUCHENE

At 22, Duchene's NHL and international careers are just getting started. The 2009 NHL draft's third overall choice is tied for seventh in game-winning goals this season on an upstart Avalanche squad. A big-game forward with plenty of speed and puck skills, the Haliburton, Ont., product possesses quality traits for an Olympic hopeful.

(Photo: Reuters)

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TRENDING DOWN: CLAUDE GIROUX, Philadelphia Flyers

One could argue Giroux has redeemed himself with his recent play, but there's no denying his status has taken a major hit this season. The 25-year-old from Hearst, Ont., before considered a world-class forward, has been grossly inconsistent. The Flyers leader didn't get his first point until game six of the season and his first goal didn't come until game 15.

(Photo: QMI Agency)

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TRENDING UP: JAMIE BENN, Dallas Stars

Although Benn, the Stars captain, is stuck in a six-game goalless drought, his overall body of work is difficult to ignore. On Nov. 14, the Victoria, B.C., native racked up six points in a blowout over the Flames. It was one of many statement games in the 24-year-old power forward's impressive start to the season.